In post-apartheid South Africa although, segregation between blacks and, whites ended there was still tension amongst the citizens. J.M. Coetzee’s novel Disgrace takes place during post-apartheid South Africa. Many characters in this novel represent times during the events after the separation has ended. One of these characters, Melanie Isaacs a student who has an odd relationship with the protagonist of the novel, David Lurie is a minor character that leads the novel into the plot. It is arguable that Melanie Isaacs represents post-apartheid South Africa because she was courageous enough to report the professor to authorities, her denunciations caused the professor to be dismissed from the university, and her broken silence led other blacks
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“Once he has made up his mind to leave, there is little to hold him back.” (Coetzee pg. 59) meaning the professor has been excused from his position. During segregation periods because whites were “above” blacks any charges made against whites were disregarded. The professor was taken into trial with the absence of Melanie Isaacs and, although Melanie Isaacs was not present for the trial the committee was in favor of Melanie Isaacs. As discussed in the article Ethics of Rape by Kim Middleton and, Julie Townsend “David is brought before the university tribunal, he declines to read Melanie’s statement, and there’s no guarantee that it would address his trespass of her flat”. The fact that her announcement to the university’s dean has dismissed the professor from the university shows that Melanie Isaacs is a representation of post-apartheid South …show more content…
Her actions made the professor resign from his title and, bring justice to the university. “But even if Lurie's actions fall short of rape, properly understood, they nevertheless represent an abuse of power” quoted in the article Discipline in Disgrace by Patrick Lenta talks about how even though the professors actions are not rape he is still abusing his power (being white in post-apartheid Africa). Melanie Isaacs’s voice was not the only one who was heard throughout the university as well when her reports also made other black citizens speak upon the situation. With that being said Melanie Isaacs is post- apartheid South Africa in the novel Disgrace by J.M.
“Once he has made up his mind to leave, there is little to hold him back.” (Coetzee pg. 59) meaning the professor has been excused from his position. During segregation periods because whites were “above” blacks any charges made against whites were disregarded. The professor was taken into trial with the absence of Melanie Isaacs and, although Melanie Isaacs was not present for the trial the committee was in favor of Melanie Isaacs. As discussed in the article Ethics of Rape by Kim Middleton and, Julie Townsend “David is brought before the university tribunal, he declines to read Melanie’s statement, and there’s no guarantee that it would address his trespass of her flat”. The fact that her announcement to the university’s dean has dismissed the professor from the university shows that Melanie Isaacs is a representation of post-apartheid South …show more content…
Her actions made the professor resign from his title and, bring justice to the university. “But even if Lurie's actions fall short of rape, properly understood, they nevertheless represent an abuse of power” quoted in the article Discipline in Disgrace by Patrick Lenta talks about how even though the professors actions are not rape he is still abusing his power (being white in post-apartheid Africa). Melanie Isaacs’s voice was not the only one who was heard throughout the university as well when her reports also made other black citizens speak upon the situation. With that being said Melanie Isaacs is post- apartheid South Africa in the novel Disgrace by J.M.